EU and Namibia agree on next steps of strategic partnership

The EU will also support an upcoming study for the development of the Port of Walvis Bay, Namibia, into an industrial and logistics hub for the region, contributing to its integration and economic development.

Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Thanks to its abundant renewable energy potential, Namibia is becoming a front-runner in the green hydrogen space. The EU is proud to be a partner in this transformative journey towards green industrialisation. Together we can further decarbonise our economies, create jobs and ensure a more prosperous and greener future for our societies.

President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, said: “Namibia recognises that its world-class renewable energy resources provide a strong foundation upon which we will build a sustainable and impactful green industrial base. Namibia is also cognisant that to fully capture the opportunity at hand, we will have to mobilise fit for purpose capital that appropriately prices risk in order to optimise the cost of said capital. This is a key element that will form the cornerstone of this transformative partnership with the EU.”

In November 2022, Namibia and the EU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials Value Chains and Renewable Hydrogen. The operational roadmap, launched and endorsed today and for the upcoming period 2023–2025, details the concrete actions in which the partnership will advance its goals, in close cooperation with EU and Namibia financial and private sector stakeholders.

The EU will also support an upcoming study for the development of the Walvis Bay port, the entry point from the Atlantic side to the Walvis Bay – Maputo Corridor, one of the eleven strategic corridors that the EU envisages to support as part of the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package. Its location makes it a natural gateway for international trade to the Southern African Development Community, a region with over 300 million inhabitants.

With EU support, the Port of Antwerp and Bruges International will develop a masterplan that covers multimodal infrastructure, spatial planning and market organisation for the Port of Walvis Bay to carry out this transformation and become a regional logistics and industrial hub for the green hydrogen and derivatives economy. The EU will also support the Namibian Ports Authority in achieving operational excellence.

The EU, with the European Investment Bank and member states including Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Finland, in a Team Europe approach, supports Namibia's green recovery in line with the 'Harambee Prosperity Plan II', 'Vision 2030', and the Global Gateway strategy. The actions of the partnership build on Namibia's commitment to the green transition.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/25102023/eu-and-namibia-agree-on-next-steps-of-strategic-partnership/